Guidelines for Transfer Credit

After your official transcripts have been evaluated, we'll send you a Transfer Equivalency Report. The report is a listing all of the courses taken elsewhere with their Sage equivalencies. At orientation, when you meet with your advisor, you will receive a degree audit or academic evaluation, which are both advising tools used to detail requirements of the degree you are seeking at Sage.

There are three parts of an audit and/or evaluation: the general education requirements, major requirements and liberal arts requirements. The degree audit is intended to show progress in meeting the requirements of the degree.

For BA/BS students, Sage will accept up to 60 credits from a 2-year institution and up to 75 credits from a 4-year institution (or a combined 2/4).

For AAS/AS students, Sage will accept up to 30 credits from a previous institution.

Courses with a letter grade of "C" or better will be accepted.

Only "Official" transcripts will be evaluated.

Delays in evaluations may be the result of questionable courses, which are being researched with or departmental program coordinators at Sage.

Credit for Prior Learning

The path to completing your bachelor's degree can incorporate many alternatives: online learning, CLEP testing, Excelsior College examination, transfer credit and Prior Learning evaluation. We can help you to decide the best option for your skills, knowledge, and experience. Many students coming to Sage as adults have amassed significant expertise through work, military or community service and through the development of personal skills in the arts. The School of Professional and Continuing Education grants credit for prior learning and life experience after an evaluation which demonstrates college level learning. A proposal for prior learning should support a student's goals and academic degree program. Credit is granted in a way that recognizes learning and achievement, and can provide another credit-bearing option to help students move toward completion of a baccalaureate degree.

Students who meet the following criteria may participate in Credit for Prior Learning:

Must be a matriculated Sage student, at least 25 years of age, in a baccalaureate degree program through the School of Professional & Continuing Education.

Must have completed at least 3 credits with a "C" or better and be enrolled in an additional 3 credit course before credit is awarded.

Overall average must be a 2.0 with a 2.2 in the major.

Credit caps exist for prior learning, as reflected in the following categories, which students can strive to attain:

9 credits in their major concentration

9 credits in General Education credits

and up to 30 credits, through a combination of prior learning, experiential learning examinations through CLEP or other testing sources.

On average, students can realistically expect to earn 12-15 credits through these options.

Experiential learning credit is subject to certain guidelines including the following:

Credit will be granted for documented learning only, not for experience per se.

While the college will provide guidance and assistance, it is each student's responsibility to provide a portfolio of documentation, which will be the basis for awarding credit.

The process of assessment and validation will have such control by the faculty that it can confidently certify such students for graduation.

Credit under this program cannot be obtained for learning when proficiency exams are required by the appropriate department.

A student who transfers more than 60 credits to Sage must take a minimum of 45 credits of Sage course work before graduation (prior learning credit is not included), effectively capping the number of potential prior learning credits.

The maximum combined transfer credits including credit for prior learning is 75 credits.

A student who has more credits at the time of application may be granted no more than one-half of the remaining credits for prior learning.

No more than a total of 60 credits will be given for a combination of prior learning and college proficiency examination credit.

Participation in the prior learning evaluation requires a one time enrollment fee of $150.00. Upon approval of prior learning credit, students will be assessed a per credit charge of $100.00 (up to a maximum of $1,000.00 for 10 credits or more).

In preparation for discussion with the Credit for Prior Learning Coordinator, students may want to review college course offerings to determine an area or areas that their portfolios will address. The basic portfolio will focus on skills and experiences supporting a college-level expertise or learning experience. Proposals will provide a basis of approval for discretionary credit by faculty, following an extensive interview assessment. Sample portfolios are available in the School of Professional & Continuing Education Academic Advising Office for students for review.

Other Important Resources

Non-Collegiate Organizations
See the Guide to Educational programs in Non-collegiate Organizations for credit available through courses sponsored by organizations recommended by the State University of New York

Accredited proprietary schools
Transfer credit petitions will be accepted from students with a minimum of 2.5 GPA for work done at proprietary schools accredited by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

Armed Services Training
See the "Guide to Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services" to see if credit may be awarded for training on military installations

Non-Accredited Institutions
Students transferring from non-accredited schools may petition for credit evaluation after attending Sage for two consecutive semesters and earning a minimum of 2.0 GPA with a 2.2 in their major.